Laos

National name: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

Government
Communist state.

Geography
A landlocked nation in Southeast Asia occupying the northwest portion of the Indochinese peninsula, Laos is surrounded by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma. Laos is a mountainous country, especially in the north, where peaks rise above 9,000 ft (2,800 m). Dense forests cover the northern and eastern areas. The Mekong River, which forms the boundary with Burma and Thailand, flows through the country for 932 mi (1,500 km) of its course.

Historical Background
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present- day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six century-old monarchy and socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

Name

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Capital

Vientiane

Government

Socialist republic,Communist single-party state -General Secretary of the LPRP, President Choummaly Sayasone - Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong- President of Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotu  - President of LFNC Sisavath Keobounphanh

Area

Total 236,800 km2 (83rd) 91,428.991 sq mi

Population

2009 estimate 6.8 million [1] (101st) - 1995 census 4,574,848

GDP (PPP)

2009 estimate- Total $14.447 billion[2]

GDP (nominal)

2010 estimate - Total $7.412 billion[2]

Currency

Kip (LAK)

Time zone

(UTC+7)